Texas City Spill Clean-up Continues

More than 465 response contractors continued work today along the shores of Mustang and South Matagorda Islands and Padre Island National Seashore, employing conventional clean-up methods with rakes, shovels and buckets. A 9-mile stretch of shoreline along Matagorda Island is a primary emphasis of these crews today.

“Federal and state wildlife agencies continue to be focused on protecting these sensitive areas for the benefit of wildlife and are working closely to coordinate with our partners in the cleanup operations,” said Nancy Brown, Public Outreach Specialist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. “Everyone’s goal in this effort is to ensure these beaches are restored and healthy for the diversity of the wildlife that depends upon them.”

As of sunset on Wednesday, the Unified Command report that a total of 119,350 pounds of oiled sand and oiled debris has been removed from island shorelines, including 28,525 pounds that was removed yesterday.

Updates from federal and state wildlife agencies active in the field show that 77 deceased birds have now been recovered from Padre Island, Matagorda Island and Mustang Island. These include a variety of water fowl and shore birds. Additionally, two deceased dolphins have been recovered along with two deceased fresh water turtles.

It is unclear whether these deaths are directly related to the oil. Tests to make that determination will take several weeks. Throughout the day wildlife experts from Texas Parks and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife were also engaged in monitoring Whooping Crane and other endangered species habitats. There are no reports of impacts on these species.

Calhoun County residents will have an opportunity to engage members of the Unified Command at an informational session to take place on Thursday, April 3, at the Port O’Connor Elementary School, 508 Monroe Avenue. The session will take place at 6:30 p.m.

County and city officials, their Emergency Management Coordinators, and port officials and state agencies continued to exchange information through daily stakeholder telephone briefings.